China warns against space ‘battlefield’ after US says weapons deployed

China has warned against turning outer space into a "battlefield" and Russia has called for it to be "free from any weapons" after the United States confirmed the deployment of weapons in orbit. The US Space Force stated that it has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action, though specifics were not provided.

China's foreign ministry opposed the move, urging the US to stop expanding its military capabilities in space. Russia echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for broad international consensus to continue working towards the complete demilitarization of space. The US statement did not disclose the specific weapons deployed or their quantity, but stated that space control involves kinetic and non-kinetic means to contest and control the space domain.

Non-kinetic means could include lasers to blind satellites or electromagnetic and cyber jamming of data links. Analysts noted that the revelation confirms an open secret and could exacerbate tensions with China. China's military commentator Song Zhongping stated that the US's announcement is no surprise and predicted that China would not stand idly by, given its own advancements in space capabilities.

The biggest concern is that while the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned weapons of mass destruction in orbit, it does not cover other types of weapons, leaving a regulatory vacuum for space warfare.